Sunday, 14 April 2024

Hear from NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers Jake Hughes, Sam Bird, and Team Principal Ian James after Round 7 in Misano.

Free Practice 3	1:17.150	P3
Qualifying	1:16.538	P1
Race		P8

“Overall, we had a strong day and starting from pole position was mega. Thanks to everyone in the team here at the track, in Bicester and the MTC. They gave Sam and I two really fast cars and I was happy to be able to correct yesterday’s error in qualifying today. Claiming pole position was really special and is my third in Formula E now.

“Today’s race saw the pack-racing style again which is a bit of a lottery. I ended up crossing the line in P5, but received a five second penalty, which saw me finish in P8. I feel like I can be happy with my race overall, even if it’s not finishing where I started or had targeted for. I feel like I’m up to speed with this style of racing now and hopefully I can try and have a smoother run at it next time.”

Free Practice 3	1:18.289	P22
Qualifying	1:16.954	P5
Race		P10

“A disappointing end to Misano. We showed some very strong pace again today, and after penalties, have ended up just inside the points in P10. The season is still long and I’m sure that in Monaco we can fight back for some decent points.”

“At the end of the second race day here in Misano, we’ve seen that we have outstanding single-lap pace, but have failed to convert this into the results we targeted for the race. Jake’s performance has been particularly strong through all sessions, culminating in a well-deserved pole position today. In fact, having both cars reach the qualifying duels for the second day in a row shows that we delivered a strong package.

“Although today’s race was tough, with some factors out of our control influencing the race, we need to recognise that this style of racing will be a feature of some of the events on the calendar. We therefore need to work hard to understand how we can get back to the big points-paying positions in the future.

“In summary, the results from this weekend are not reflective of the effort the team has put in, nor of our potential. Although we’re leaving Misano with a handful of points, we’re far from satisfied. Our focus now shifts to Monaco and bringing our A-game at one of motorsport’s most iconic locations. Knowing what this team is capable of, and from what I’ve seen so far this season, we’ll be ready to fight back in Monaco in two weeks time.”

Championship Standings

NEOM McLaren Formula E Team: P7 (63 points)

Sam Bird: P8 (38 points)

Jake Hughes: P9 (25 points)